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'Arsenal made a mistake by letting me go'

Kolo Toure pledges to show Arsenal what they’re missing out on when Liverpool travel to the Emirates on Saturday.

The Ivory Coast international has made no room for sentiment when he comes up against his former side on Saturday, pledging to show Arsenal that it was a mistake letting him go.

The experienced defender was considered one of the top centre backs in the world under the tutorship of Arsene Wenger and was a huge part in Arsenal’s last major trophy successes.

A bust-up with defensive partner William Gallas saw the defender hand in a transfer request which was turned down by Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood. However, despite reversing his decision the writing was on the wall.

Manchester City were at the start of flexing their financial power hovering up all the top-class talent they could buy and after much speculation they managed to agree a fee of around £16 million pound for the talented Arsenal centre back.

Kolo Toure played a large part of his first two seasons at the Etihad before injury problems and dips in form saw the defender become an expensive squad player, the career of a once great centre back seemed to be on the decline.

Brendan Rodgers, however, took a chance on Toure and managed to sign him on a free transfer from Manchester City in the summer.

The move seems to have rejuvenated the players hunger for the game and now playing some of his best football since his Arsenal days`.

Coming up against his former club on Saturday, the twice Premier League champion reminisced about his Arsenal days, the respect for Arsene Wenger and what he hopes to prove at the Emirates in the upcoming game.

‘’I think it’s going to be a great game for me to play,

‘’I had some great times there and it was a big part of my life.

‘’Without Arsene I wouldn’t be here. He was the one who saw me. He’s a fantastic manager and gave me a chance to play football in this country

‘’It’s always special to go back there but at the same time I want to show on Saturday that Arsenal made a mistake by letting me go

‘’I’m going there to fight. I want to show them what I can do and help my team to win’’

Personally, I think it's great to see a true Premier League great show this kind of hunger and fight, especially after a couple of years out of the limelight – he has shown, if nothing else, that players can come back fighting after periods in the doldrums and his performance on Saturday will be one to keep an eye on.

Do you agree with Toure's assertion that Arsenal made a mistake by allowing him to leave?